Pre K-3 Instructional Aide (Rio Grande City)

Description

Job Overview

The Instructional Aide assists in providing a high-quality early learning environment by working in partnership with AVANCE and ISD classroom teachers. This position provides flexible classroom coverage and ensures consistent instructional and supervisory support as directed across assigned classrooms.

The Instructional Aide collaborates closely with the teachers and support staff to help implement the curriculum, foster positive child outcomes, and maintain a safe and nurturing classroom environment for all children.

Job Responsibilities

Child Growth and Development

• Provide classroom support while maintaining continuity of instruction and classroom management.
• Assist with supervision and engagement of children during lunch, bus arrival and dismissal, on the playground, and at special events.
• Support lead teachers (AVANCE and ISD) in implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with the curriculum.
• Plan and implement appropriate early childhood education experiences with a variety of materials in various areas.
• Promote activities designed to enhance healthy emotional, social, intellectual, and physical development. 
• Supervise upkeep of all educational equipment and materials in assigned area. 
• Assist in preparing classroom materials and maintaining a clean, organized, and safe learning environment.
• Build nurturing, respectful relationships with children and families.
• Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment. 
• Help teachers keep administrative records and prepare required reports. 
• Provide orientation and assistance to ISD substitute teachers.
• Reinforce classroom routines, transitions, and positive behavior guidance strategies.
• Adapt to changing classroom assignments and schedules as needed to support program needs.
• Collaborate with teaching teams to monitor child progress and contribute observations for assessment and planning.
• Attend and participate in all required training, staff meetings, and professional development activities.
• Follow all AVANCE, ISD, Head Start, and licensing policies and procedures.
• Follow and adhere to district safety protocols and procedures.

Communication and Service Coordination

• Share pertinent information with Family Advocate ensuring coordinated services to meet the needs of individual children and families. Participate in case conferences as appropriate.

Record Keeping and Reporting

• Share records and notes on children and families with teachers.

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment

• Work with the teaching team to analyze child outcomes on a classroom basis twice yearly, consult with education leadership, and make adjustments to curriculum planning and implementation as needed.

Planning and Implementation

• Support learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children.
• Implement ISD’s/AVANCE’s chosen curriculums with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources.
• Prepare or modify weekly lesson plans and prepare to implement small-group activities, read-aloud, circle time, and other curriculum components.
• Follow all guidance and expectations to support implementation of AVANCE’s Parent-Child Education Program.

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment

• Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to children’s learning.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with the ISD, Head Start and childcare licensing requirements.
• Follow all health and hygiene practices, including handwashing, sanitizing, and universal precautions.
• Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required

Support the social and emotional development of children.

• Establish positive and productive relationships with families through building rapport and trust.   
• Know and understand School Readiness Goals and strive to help all children achieve them.

Other Duties

• Performs all other duties as assigned

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Execution & Accountability 
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making 
• Communication & Influence 
• Collaboration & Teamwork 
• Stakeholder Focus 
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Requirements

Education

Required:

• CDA or enrolled to complete within 2 years; or have a degree in any field or be enrolled in a program leading to such degree.

Preferred:

• Degree in early childhood education

Work Experience

Required

• Prior experience with children ages 0-5 years.      
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Additional Skills

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; demonstrated flexibility to handle multiple priorities.  
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Must be honest, dependable, and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment

• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine

Working Conditions

• Work is generally performed in an office environment. 
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices). 
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties. 

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.